How Yaxel Lendeborg Joined Warriors Icons In Franchise History Vs. Clippers

How Yaxel Lendeborg joined Warriors icons in franchise history vs. Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Yaxel Lendeborg has given the Warriors a youthful jolt of energy, and he has entered some rare company through seven games.

In the absence of Steph Curry and Draymond Green, Lendeborg took complete charge of the offense during Sunday’s 124-112 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The No. 11 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft scored a career-high 37 points with six made 3-pointers to lead Golden State to its fourth consecutive win.

The outburst pushed Lendeborg’s numbers on the season to 22.3 points per game on 52-percent shooting from the field and 40.9 percent from distance as the Warriors’ second-leading scorer.

Lendeborg became the third player in franchise history to average over 20 points per game through his first seven games, joining Warriors legends Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry.

His 37 points also were the most scored by a rookie since Curry’s 42 in a 122-116 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in April 2010.

While Curry finished second in the Rookie of the Year race in the 2009-10 season to the Sacramento Kings’ Tyreke Evans, both Chamberlain and Barry won the award.

Chamberlain was the first player in NBA history to win MVP as a rookie when he did so in the 1959-60 season, and Barry made First-Team All-NBA as a rookie in 1965-66, although the number of teams at the time was considerably smaller.

The numbers do not just compare against franchise legends, but also against the current crop of NBA stars.

Lendeborg is one of two rookies to rank top 25 in the NBA in scoring this season, alongside Sacramento Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr.

Beyond the scoring, Lendeborg has had an impressive all-around impact. His 7.3 rebounds per game leads the Warriors, and coach Steve Kerr frequently has used him as a playmaker in the Warriors’ offense.

Lendeborg’s consistency has been on full display, with 25-plus points, five or more assists and nine or more rebounds in four games.

The rookie’s play is making headlines, but his personality only has amplified his popularity. Lendeborg said he “lost all respect” for Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić after the Warriors’ 127-105 opening-day loss, and promptly refused to get media trained.

After a lackluster start to the season with three straight losses, Lendeborg has been a huge reason for the Warriors’ turnaround, and he will continue to be featured if the Warriors are to maintain this momentum until Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody return.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast